Category Archives: News

The Central Bank of Brunei celebrates the Sultan’s 50-year reign with a commemorative polymer banknote and coin set, and issues the fifth series of circulation coins. The country has celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, having been on the throne for fifty years. To mark the occasion the country’s Central Bank, the Autoriti Monetari…

The Central Bank of Argentina has issued the next denomination from its new “Native Animals of Argentina” series of banknotes, the 20-peso. The new note, which entered circulation on the 4 October, features the native guanaco – a llama type animal – as part of the currency series’ efforts to raise awareness of the preservation of the environment. The…

The Royal Bank of Scotland has begun circulating its latest polymer banknote, the ten pound note, printed by De La Rue on Safeguard® substrate. It is the first time in thirty years that the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has issued a new £10 banknote design. The new note, which features mathematician and astronomer Mary Somerville, is…

The Central Bank of the Bahamas has issued the latest denomination from their new CRISP Evolution series, the one dollar banknote. The Bank issued a press release yesterday announcing the release of the banknote denomination, the second of the CRISP Evolution series to be issued following the $10 banknote in September 2016. The banknote is printed on Louisenthal’s Hybrid™ combination…

Bank of China (Hong Kong) is celebrating its 100th anniversary of its presence in Hong Kong with a limited edition HK$100 commemorative banknote. The note uses a predominantly red colour scheme and its design includes similar features to the currently circulating HK$100 banknote version. However, the front of the note includes an illustration of the Great Wall of China on the front left…

Clydesdale Bank in Scotland has issued the second of their polymer banknotes, the upgraded ten pound note from the World Heritage Series. The new ten pound polymer banknotes will begin circulating today, almost a year to the day after the first Clydesdale Bank £5 polymer banknote was circulated. Like its paper predecessor, the new polymer £10 note has…

The Reserve Bank of Australia has begun to circulate the new $10 banknote, the second of the Bank’s Next Generation banknote family. The design of the new $10 banknote continues to feature illustrations of Australian writer and journalist Dame Mary Gilmore, and Australian bush poet, journalist and author AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson. The new note also retains the same size…

The Central Bank of Madagascar has today issued the remaining lower denominations from its latest banknote family, consisting of the 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 Ariary denominations. The new banknotes join the 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 Ariary denominations issued on 17 July. The theme of the new banknote family is “The riches of Madagascar”. All…

The Bank of England has today started to circulate the new ten pound banknote, a polymer note featuring the novelist Jane Austin. Image courtesy of the Bank of England. It is the second of the new series of polymer banknotes to be issued by the Bank of England, following the release of the £5 banknote on…

The 5 lari banknote has now been circulated, following an announcement by the National Bank of Georgia last June. The upgraded lari banknote will circulate alongside the previous version of the 5-lari note first circulated in 2002. The new 5 lari banknote continues to use themes from its previous design, including a portrait of Georgian historian Ivane Javakhishvili…

SMI is one of the best known independent technical and marketing consultancies serving the banknote and high security document market. In a sector which by its nature is strictly confidential and relies on experience and trust, SMI has built a strong reputation for insight, expertise and integrity.

Philippe Barreau, Managing DirectorSICPA SA

SMI’s unique knowledge of the banknote industry is unrivalled. They are the consultancy of choice within this sector.

Arjo Wiggins, Managing Director BanknotesThibaut d'Argentré

Secura Monde’s knowledge and grasp of the currency industry – the suppliers, issuers, technologies - and the issues and challenges that it faces are second to none.

Astrid Mitchell, EditorReconnaissance International

I can recommend the professional skill of the Secura Monde team and their global network. They are disciplined, organized, analytical, accurate and timely executing agreed tasks, they provide both comprehensive, detailed and meaningful reports and recommendations. Secura Monde also has good technical knowledge in security production and application, and production technologies from start to finish, which is very valuable.

Matthias Müller, Director Business Unit Security FeaturesHueck Folien

For technical and strategic consultation in the field of banknote and high security printing SMI is recognised as the industry leader. The company's understanding of the global market and its relevant technologies is first class and, in a highly competitive sector, SMI can be relied upon to provide expert and reliable independent advice.

Crane Currency

The recent business history of Fabriano in Security papers and features started in 2002 with a key report made by SMI. In fact, Fabriano paper mill was basically supplying banknote paper just to domestic market. With the investment made at that time, enabling their production to increase by 3 times, they need a clear overview on the international market, which was given by SMI, as well as some important advices as to security features alliances, which led Fabriano to take over a leading security thread and holographic foil manufacturer such as Mantegazza, renamed as Fabriano Securities in 2004.